Conservancy=20
recruiting more members The =
primary=20
organization for land preservation in Berks County wants to =
become=20
less dependent on government and foundation grants. =

By Adam=20
Wilson Reading=20
Eagle

There=20
wasn't an empty seat at the Berks County Conservancy's =
recent annual=20
banquet, but to Kimberly J. Murphy, the executive director, =
there=20
was room for thousands more.

For, while space in the Sheraton Hotel Reading, =
Wyomissing, was=20
at a premium, the organization needs more people to be aware =
of its=20
work in acquiring and preserving land in the county and to=20
financially support its efforts to guarantee more =
development-free=20
space, Murphy said.

In 2005 alone, the conservancy preserved more than 300 =
acres in=20
Berks by acquiring conservation easements, and another 400 =
acres are=20
under negotiation, she said.

Stream banks were restored and urban gardens were =
planted.=20
Development of 155 acres on Neversink Mountain was prevented =
and a=20
network of nature trails there continues to take shape.

But the county's leading nonprofit organization for land=20
conservation needs help if it is to continue its work, =
Murphy said.

=93Our fundraising efforts have been successful, but we =
need to do=20
more,=94 she said, adding that 70 percent of the =
conservancy's annual=20
$1 million budget comes from government and foundation =
grants.

Reliance on one-time injections of money is dangerous to =
the=20
long-term viability of the conservancy, which means =
financial=20
support and public awareness are critical, Murphy said.

To reach that goal, the conservancy has launched the most =
ambitious marketing campaign in its history to increase =
membership=20
and to encourage those who already belong to upgrade their=20
memberships.

=93It helps the longevity of the organization,=94 said =
Brian McCoy, a=20
South Heidelberg investment analyst who sits on the =
conservancy's=20
board of directors. =93If you have that firm base, you are =
not as=20
dependent on one-time grants.=94

The best of what Berks and the conservancy have to offer =
is=20
captured on a video that sparkles with the glitz and glamour =
of a=20
Hollywood production.

Captured are revitalized urban neighborhoods with =
residents=20
reaping the rewards of conservancy-created gardens, the =
serenity of=20
open farmland and scenic vistas, and the beauty of =
free-flowing=20
streams and panoramic views.

=93The future of Berks County is exciting and you can =
feel the=20
momentum building,=94 Murphy said.

That momentum includes a recent commitment by the Berks =
County=20
Commissioners to continue the county's farm preservation =
program=20
through a $36 million line of credit.

This year, $8.1 million $7 million from the line of =
credit and $1=20
million left over from a previous bond issue is available =
for=20
increasing the number of preserved acres, which now total =
43,000 on=20
375 farms.

McCoy, an avid outdoorsman, appears in the video to =
stress the=20
conservancy's belief that conservation and growth are not =
mutually=20
exclusive.

=93To be able to attract business and hire employees, an =
area has=20
to have natural amenities,=94 McCoy said.

=A9 =
2006=20
Reading Eagle Company, All Rights ReservedServing the Berks =
County=20
community and surrounding areas for over 130 years!This site =
contains=20
links to other Internet sites.These links are not endorsements =
of any=20
products or services in such sites,and no information in such =
site has=20
been endorsed or approved by this=20
site.